Steve Serr, CH, MA, MDiv, PhD
Formal Education
- Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, Center for Psychological Studies. Albany, CA, June, 2001
- M.Div., Ocean Seminary College, June 2010
- M.A., Government, California State University. Sacramento, CA, June, 1979
- B.A., Social Sciences, University of California. Berkeley, CA, December, 1976
Shamanic Studies
- Three Year Training Program in Advanced Shamanism and Shamanic Healing, Foundation for Shamanic Studies (FSS), Mill Valley, CA 2007
- Two Week Intensive Course in Advanced Shamanism and Shamanic Healing, FSS, 2003
- Shamanic Extraction Healing Training/Shamanism, Dying and Beyond, FSS, 2007
- Shamanic Counseling Training Programs, FSS, Mill Valley, CA 2007
- California Shamanism: Medicine of the Coastal Redwood Mts., Carol Proudfoot-Edgar, Ben Lomond, CA 2008
- California Shamanism: Bear Medicine & Doctoring, Carol Proudfoot-Edgar, 2008
- Unraveling Curses, Betsy Bergstrom, Sebastopol, CA 2005
- Basic Heart Centered Depossession Training, Betsy Bergstrom, Occidental, CA 2004
- Advanced Heart Centered Depossession Training, Betsy Bergstrom, Occidental, CA 2005
- Mediumship Training, Betsy Bergstrom, Santa Rosa, CA 2006
- Mojave Desert Vision Quest, California Institute of Integral Studies, June, 2010
Other Training and Certification
- Certified Hypnotherapist, Integrative Process Therapy, Lisa Belvoir, Felton, CA June 2009
- Certified Hypnotherapist, National Guild of Hypnotists, Merrimack, NH, July 2009
- Certificate in Clinical Pastoral Education, CPE, Inc. Mt. Diablo Medical Center. Concord, CA Aug. 2000
- Certificate in Hospice Services, Hospice of the Tanana Valley. Fairbanks, AK 1989
- Certificate in Brief Therapy, Extended Advanced Training, Mental Research Institute. Palo Alto, CA 1996
- Certificate in Paraprofessional Crisis Intervention, Fairbanks Crisis Clinic Foundation. Fairbanks, AK 1989
- Certificate in Teaching Family Training, Fairbanks, AK 1988
- Certification Exam passed, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Level 2 Counselor, 1989
- Community College Instructor Credential, California Community Colleges. 1979
Research Interests
Steve’s research interests have fallen in three primary areas: The first, has been in creating a curriculum of studies in what is generally referred to as ‘core shamanism,’ originating from the work of Dr. Michael Harner, which focuses on the ‘core’ techniques and understanding that are most often shared among shamanic practitioners worldwide. His particular interest has been to bring scientific knowledge and contemporary awareness to these ancient healing ways, and from this, develop a comprehensive and ‘benchmark’ training program that will serve as a standard in the field. Secondly, he has been developing a novel model, based on shamanic techniques, that supports individual discovery and development within a group, self-help structure. Thirdly and amidst all of this, he explores the sacredness of nature with its potential to help heal the wounds of civilization, and reintegrate humanity with Gaia.
Publications
Steve was once the founder and editor of an online ‘e-zine’ called Butterfly: The Journal of Contemporary Buddhism, and more recently, the editor of The Marshall Creek Project Newsletter, a ‘e-newsletter’ that explored Earth-centered spirituality and understanding such as is found in shamanism and sacred naturalism. He currently maintains a blog exploring these at awakeningsnow.blogspot.com
Scholarly Activities
Steve maintains two primary professional activities, one nestled within the other. Awakenings Now is the primary portal to his several interests. Through Awakenings Now, he provides access to his blog, information about contacting him for shamanic imagery hypnosis, and access to information and training in shamanic healing. Here, Shamanism-101 provides a small library of information about shamanism, and instructions in taking a shamanic journey, as well as direct students to his trainings. Currently, he serves an editor for Restoration Earth: an Interdisciplinary Journal for the Study of Nature and Civilization, published by Ocean Seminary College.
Professional Associations
Steve maintains a ministerial standing with the Circle of the Sacred Earth, a church of animism fostering shamanic principles and practices. He maintains certification as a consulting hypnotist with the National Guild of Hypnotists (#33571).
Additional Information: a message from Steve
“Some of my close friends say, ‘Steve, you don’t get out much, do you!’” And I guess they’re right, but only in a manner of speaking. I have the world at my fingertips here near Santa Cruz, California, living as close to nature as I do. I am about as happy as I suppose I could be, just working with the land under the redwoods, amidst the ferns. I suppose this is what they call a ‘generative’ time of my life, as so much of my time is spent in writing and teaching, for it is my chief interest to share and further what we know and are reaching for when it comes to restoring our sacred relationship with our Earth. I hope we have a chance to meet, and I look forward to seeing you in class! Blessings.”